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4 Common Questions to Help You Prepare for Your Next Job Interview | GoProfe

When looking for a job, one of the most important steps in the process is the interview. While your resume/CV and cover letter may get you invited to an interview, the interview itself is really where the decision will be made if you’re the right fit for the position and the company.

To help you out, the team at goprofe.com has put together this article with some of the most common questions that are asked in interviews. Be sure to prepare your own answers to these questions, tailoring your responses to the company and position that you’re applying to.

Haz clic aquí para leer este artículo en español.

Have an upcoming interview? Make sure to get together with your English teacher to prepare. Find a teacher that works with your schedule at goprofe.com

1. Tell me about yourself.

This question, sometimes referred to as the “elevator pitch” question, is one of the most frequently asked in interviews. It is also often the first question that is asked, so it is important to give your interviewer a good first impression with your response. Your response should be short enough that you could give it to an interviewer in the time it takes for an elevator ride. If you’re a student, you’ll want to first start with your education (university, what year you’re graduating and what you’re studying). Then you should talk about any relevant experience that you have. This can include work and volunteer experience, but can also include coursework. Lastly, you’ll want to conclude your elevator pitch by relating your experiences directly to the company and position that you’re pursuing. How is your background unique and how will you be able to add value to the company? In your conclusion make sure to demonstrate your knowledge of the company, its history and culture and how you would fit in well there.

2. Why do you want to work here?

While this question may seem obvious, it is important that you think about your response ahead of time. This question is a great opportunity to show that you’ve done your research on the company you’re applying to. When responding to this question, try not to focus so much on the position that you’re applying to. Instead, focus of the company itself. How is this company different from others in its industry? Why do you specifically want to work there as opposed to other companies where you could do the same work?

3. What’s your biggest weakness?

Throughout the majority of your interview it is definitely best to focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses. However, some interviewers will be interested in your response to this question. Most of the time, interviewers are looking for two things: 1) a sense of your ability to be self reflective and 2) how you are working to improve your weakness. When answering this question it is important to make sure that your weakness is actually a weakness. For example, saying that your weakness is that you sometimes work too hard will just show your interviewer that you aren’t very good at being self reflective or critical. It is also important to explain to your interview the ways that you’re working on your weakness and how you’ve been progressing.

4. Do you have any questions for me?

One of the toughest questions of any interview can usually pop up at the very end, when it is common for the recruiter to ask you if you have any questions for them. It is very important that you come to your interview prepared with at least a couple of questions in advance in case new ones don’t come up naturally from your conversation. In general, the best questions to ask during an interview go beyond the basics. Your questions should definitely not be something that you could easily answer by looking at the company website. Instead ask a question that only someone who has worked at the company will be able to answer. Ask about company culture and the team that you’ll be working with. Ask about challenges of the position and what qualities make a successful employee at the company. Ask why your interviewer likes working there. Another common response to this question is to simply ask about the next steps in the interview process.

Now that we’ve given you some common interview questions in English, it’s time to start practicing your answers. With goprofe.com you can find a private English teacher that can help you prepare for your next interview.